Top general estate planning guidance financial advisors in Pompano Beach, FL

Peter Caruso is a CFP® with 34 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Wells Fargo Advisors and has held various roles within Wells Fargo firms since 2009. Outside of his work at Wells Fargo, he holds ownership stakes in two wealth management practices in Massachusetts, dedicating limited monthly hours to these activities. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of investment and financial planning services, including specialized planning for business-owner transitions, special needs, and divorce, utilizing Wells Fargo’s research and planning tools.

Salvatore Labarbera is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Kestra Investment Services and Kestra Advisory Services since 2016. Labarbera operates under the DBA BlueLake Wealth Advisors for certain registered representative and advisory activities. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment management, serving clients with more than $79 billion in assets under management and catering to large institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds.

James Platania is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial since 2018. He previously worked at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC for five years. Platania is also an adjunct faculty member at The National Judicial College. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

John Ruark is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, operating Patuxent Financial Planning, LLC since 1996. He is based in Pompano Beach, FL, and runs a single-advisor practice. Patuxent Financial Planning, LLC is a fee-only, state-registered investment advisor serving individuals, families, and trusts. The firm employs a fundamental, long-term buy/hold/monitor strategy focused on asset allocation, managing accounts on a non-discretionary basis and providing ongoing supervision through formal reviews.

Alex Smith is a Planning Consultant at the Boca Raton Investor Center, where he develops personalized financial strategies tailored to clients' goals and evolving circumstances. He combines financial planning with a relationship-driven approach to provide guidance aimed at clarity, confidence, and direction throughout clients' financial journeys. His focus includes supporting long-term success, family legacy planning, and lasting financial well-being. Alex has held various roles at Fidelity Investments, beginning as a High Net Worth Service Associate in 2022, progressing to Investment Solutions Representative I in 2023, then Relationship Manager from 2024 to 2026, and currently serving as a Planning Consultant. Prior to joining Fidelity, he was a Personal & Business Banker at Wells Fargo in 2022 and a Financial Professional at Equitable Advisors in 2021. Outside of his professional work, Alex enjoys activities such as spending time at the beach, family activities, football, outdoor adventures, and soccer.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 10 years of industry experience, including roles at MetLife Securities and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. In addition to her advisory work, she operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved tools to develop collaborative, goal-oriented financial plans.

Gordon Brown III is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment options, operating under a fiduciary standard.

William Soltow is a financial advisor at Smith & Wyatt with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at CoreCap Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder of Frontier Wealth Management and works as an independent insurance agent with Goosehead Insurance. Smith & Wyatt serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and corporations, managing approximately $207 million for around 724 clients through a team of eight advisors. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and estate-planning consulting, tailoring investment advice to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.